Improvement in feed-bags



J; WEIR.

Peed-Bags.

(40 1965279. Patented Oct.16,1877.

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UNITED S'r 'rEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WEIR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN FEED-BAGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,279, dated October 16, 1877 application filed August 4, 1877.

To all whom it may concem:

. Be it known that I, JOHN Winn, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Feed-Bags, of which the following is a specification:

This invention consists in providing the ordinary feed-bag with a flexible hopper-shaped diaphragm, secured to the inside of the bag, at some distance below the top of same. The inner margin of this diaphragm, which surrounds the opening to admit the animals muzzle, is rendered elastic .by a binding or strip of rubber, so as to cause it to set closely to his head, and at the same time admit of the proper movement of the jaw in eating.

The object of this invention is twofold: WVhen the animalthrows his muzzle up so as to get at the feed, the bag is nearly inverted, and the diaphragm alone prevents the escape and waste of the feed at the side of the animals head; also, the diaphragm being set somewhat below the mouth or top of the bag, all the grain that adheres to the animals jaws when he lifts his head out of the bag will be caught by it and directed back into thebag.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical mid-section of a feed-bag provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

Let A represent an ordinary feed-bag, and B a flexible diaphragm attached to the walls of the same at some distance below the top. This diaphragm may be made of the same material used in the construction of ordinary feed-bags, or of any suitable textile or flexible material. It is made hoppershaped, as shown, and provided with an elastic strip of rubber or webbing, O, at its inner margin, to cause it to fit closely about the animals muzzle.

In lieu of the webbing O, the edge of the diaphragm may be bound with a strip of rubber, or a rubber cord may be run in the edge; It is preferable, however, to so arrange it that the rubber will be interposed between the horses muzzle and the rougher fabric of the diaphragm, so as to avoid chafing.

By making the diaphragm flexible and hopper-shaped, theanima-l is given sufficientlatt tude for raising and lowering his head in the bag without any chafing of the elastic O on his muzzle.

The great advantage in placing the diaphragm at a point some distance below the top of the bag arises from the fact that when the horse withdraws his head from the bag, the adhesion of his muzzle to the diaphragm causes it to assume a cone (instead of a hopper) shape, and such grain or feed as adheres to his mouth will drop upon this and be caught bythe sides of the bag, eventually finding its way back into the bag.

The bag may be provided with a wood, leather, or other bottom, either perforated or plain, and be provided with the usual form of air-screen D, or any other device by which the animal may obtain air while eating.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim- As an improved article of manufacture, a feed-bag, A, provided with a flexible hoppershaped diaphragm, B, fixed to the walls or sides of the bag at some distance below the top, as shown, and provided at its inner margin with an elastic binding, 0, all as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name'in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WEIR. Witnesses:

OLE H. IIOLBERG, HENRY OoNNE'r'r. 

